We still have some undeveloped property here in the suburbs. What used to be scrub land, good only for goats, has been sold, a parcel here, a parcel there. I walk my dog and we explore these places which will someday soon be eradicated. One such spot of land was completely bulldozed a few months ago. They turned it into a moonscape. I'm sure it's cheaper and easier to just scrape the land, fill in where needed, compact the dirt and put up the buildings. Then, plant a few puny trees. Maybe even a flower bed. As they have been erecting the building, I believe it is turning into an office space. We have plenty of vacant office space around here. But, no matter. And, how can I criticize? Our house sits on what was once such a place. But, we should stop now and then to remember that something was lost.
This abandoned loveseat sits under a cluster of cedars on just such a parcel of land. I had to make my way thru some brush to get to it. I have some scratches, but, darn it!, I wanted the picture. It is extremely shady in that grove. This was the best I could do with my iPhone camera.
I see it and wonder: how did it get here? Did the trees, the brush grow up around it? Perhaps a couple once sat in it, when it was new, and enjoyed the sun. Now, old and worn, crumbling, paint flaking, it sits in deep, deep shade, empty and forgotten.
I think of how our culture treats the elderly. We see them as old and worn. We forget them. And in doing so, cut ourselves off from wisdom, from perspective, from history itself. Barring illness or accident, we will all be aged one day. "Respect your elders!" Once, we rolled our eyes at that sharp rebuke. But, our time is coming.
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